The Memphis Showboats are among the USFL representatives helping form the new UFL. They’ll be facing the Houston Roughnecks, a former XFL franchise, on Easter Sunday to kick off the newly collaborative league.
But who will lead the Showboats on offense? It’s time to learn more about quarterback Case Cookus.
Case Cookus Already Familiar With Playing in Spring
While the UFL is considered brand new to football fans taking in the action, Cookus is no stranger to suiting up in the spring.
Cookus was last seen playing with the Philadelphia Stars the last two seasons in the USFL. He was a 12th-round selection when the league conducted its draft in March 2022.
The former FCS passer immediately won over his Stars teammates. Cookus, who starred at Northern Arizona from 2015 to 2019, guided Philadelphia to the USFL’s 2022 season title game.
However, he had to leave during the game due to a broken leg. Cookus finished with 222 yards and three touchdowns on 17 of 29 passing.
Cookus eventually watched K.J. Costello handle the reins for the Stars the rest of the night. But the Stars fell 33-30 to the Birmingham Stallions. Afterward, Cookus shared this tweet on X (formerly known as Twitter):
Wasn’t the way we wanted to go out but I am so proud of what this team did this year! Thank you for the support! #JawnBlob https://t.co/dne6F58cOX
— Case Cookus (@CaptainCookus10) July 4, 2022
Cookus was eventually lured back to the Stars by signing a new deal on Feb. 17, 2023, as he and Costello both rejoined Philadelphia.
However, the Stars were not among the USFL franchises that became a part of the UFL merger, eventually folding in Jan. 2024.
Cookus Once Made Local Homecoming During NFL Career
Before embarking on his USFL/UFL journey, Cookus once made a return home.
The native of Thousand Oaks, Calif., signed with the Los Angeles Rams practice squad on Nov. 23, 2022. The move brought him back to his hometown, as the franchise practices at Cal Lutheran University. His practice squad contract eventually expired after the 2022 campaign.
Before the Rams, Cookus had stops with multiple NFL franchises. He joined the Las Vegas Raiders on Aug. 10, 2021, but was waived nearly a week later.
Sin City wasn’t his only August NFL stop. He was previously with the Minnesota Vikings by signing on Aug. 2, 2021. But got waived three days later.
Even earlier, before the 2021 training camps, Cookus had a truncated NFL stay with the Denver Broncos. Cookus was waived by the AFC West franchise on May 20, 2021, which was three days after his initial signing.
Cookus’ first NFL debut was through the New York Giants. That was also the place where he had his longest league stay, signing on April 28, 2020, as an undrafted free agent but was cut Aug. 2.
KEEP READING: Top UFL Quarterbacks 2024
In addition to surfacing in the NFL, USFL, and UFL, Cookus played briefly in the CFL with the Edmonton Elks in 2021. Collegiately, he played five seasons at NAU, where he racked up 12,057 yards, 105 TDs, and 21 INTs.
Cookus is the 2015 winner of the Jerry Rice Award, handed annually to the top freshman in FCS football.
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